Icasa extends deadline for review of digital migration regulations

Migration to digital terrestrial television will free up valuable spectrum. Source: Keriliwi/Unsplash

The inquiry, announced on March 12, 2024, aims to examine the effectiveness of the regulations governing the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting in South Africa. Interested parties are encouraged to submit their comments before the revised deadline.

Additionally, Icasa announced that public hearings will be held on June 26-28, 2024 to further discuss the investigation’s findings. A detailed audition schedule will be announced closer to the date.

This extension and upcoming public hearings provide a key opportunity for industry stakeholders to take part in the review of digital migration regulations, ultimately shaping the future of broadcasting in South Africa.

Applicable rules

The Digital Migration Regulations 2012 were established to manage the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting, a process known as digital migration.

Key aspects of these regulations include:

• Regulating the digital migration of existing television channels
• Establishing conditions for allocating channel capacity
• Establishing authorization procedures for digital motivational channels
• Establishing a time frame for dual lighting (simultaneous analog and digital broadcasting)

The review of these regulations is a key step in assessing their effectiveness and ensuring their compatibility with the current broadcasting landscape in South Africa.